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Assuming that this is true, then even moreso you should advocate others get the flu shot to help protect you.

And yes, the flu shot isn't 100% effective. And yes some have bad reactions to certain vaccines. However, I find it extremely unlikely that you got it from the vaccine and instead that you were just very very unlucky at getting influenza. It's a bit of a sharpshooter fallacy to me.

And for those who are vulnerable, then their only protection is herd immunity where everyone else around them is immunized by vaccines.

Yes. This is my position.

> Just as the MMR vaccine is less about you contracting measles and more about your spreading measles to more vulnerable populations that are unable to get the vaccine

No, this is false. The MMR vaccine is very much about stopping individual people who get the vaccine from getting measles. Herd immunity follows, and is important, but the primary aim of the vaccination is to prevent measles in the people who are vaccinated.

> I've received the flu shot three times in my life. I've been hospitalized for influenza three times in my life.

> Please tell me more about how I've deceived myself.

Here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

Nope. Like I just stated in my edit, I'm not advocating that anyone forgo the flu shot, but that the flu shot is not 100% effective or 100% side effect free.

It's not bias. It's a fact. My GP is the one that has specifically told me to avoid the shot because I have a history of complications with it.

If you're capable, I'd love for you to diagnose me with some other mental disorder or logical fallacy, but please look at my medical history before you start dismissing my experiences as idiotic.

Your edit says:

> I'm very much aware of evidence and studies stating that its "impossible" to get the actual flu from the flu shot, yet I am walking proof of contrary evidence.

This is the famous "anti-tiger rock" argument from the Simpsons. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Apu_About_Nothing)

You have evidence you got the flu.

You do NOT have evidence you got it from the shot.

> My GP is the one that has specifically told me to avoid the shot.

Anti-vaccine cranks exist even amongst medical professionals. Hell, the whole movement was started by one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wakefield

> the flu shot is not 100% effective or 100% side effect free

This is a strawman. Vaccine proponents agree with these specific statements. It's well known that the effectiveness varies from year to year, and that side effects are possible.

ceejayoz, I generally respect most everything you write on this site, but I'm amazed how dismissive you are of this.

Can you point me to a study stating that the flu vaccine is 100% safe and effective? Not mostly effective, or mostly safe, but 100% honest-to-god safe for 100% of the population to get?

edit: really? calling my GP an anti vaccine crank? fuck you.

> Can you point me to a study stating that the flu vaccine is 100% safe and effective?

No, because that's a totally different claim.

The flu shot can't give you the flu.

The flu shot can have side effects, and no one with any knowledge claims it's 100% effective.

> edit: really? calling my GP an anti vaccine crank? fuck you.

I'm saying "my GP says so" isn't sufficient to contest the wealth of scientific evidence we have on the safety and efficacy of the flu shot.

edit: You've since edited it to say he recommended due to complications, which is fine, but doesn't sound like the same claim you made originally. There are absolutely people who can't take the shot for various reasons (egg allergies, for example!) and depend on herd immunity as a result. I simply contested the claim that you can get flu from the shot, as every bit of scientific data we have disputes that particular claim.

Please stop.